A) The Oxford English dictionary definition of the word “transition” is the passing or change from one place, state, condition etc. to another. As a young person you experience lots of different transitions, for examples, moving to senior school, moving into teenage years, body changes etc. And it’s something you continue to do all your life. But in your teenage years you are likely to go through a lot of different changes at the same time which can be quite a lot to deal with. It’s probably worth pointing out that your parents/carers and guardians are also having to deal with these transitions too; the main one of which is understanding that you are changing from a child into an adult and they need to “let go” to allow you to make this change. It may be a difficult time for everyone.
Transition is a word often used by the medical teams and in this case it refers to moving from children’s to adult services. Research shows that the movement to adult services should be a planned and gradual process rather than an event. The process should involve you and your parents/carers and aims to not only prepare you for the move to and cope with adult services, but also encourage and support you to take more responsibility for your health and body.
Every hospital will have a different process but the aim will be the same. The movement to adult services can happen any time after your sixteenth birthday but be prepared for the teams to start talking about “growing up with your liver” much earlier than that.
CLDF also has a range of literature to support you and your family called – “taking your liver into adulthood” and a series of reflection sheets to help you think about what you know and feel about your liver, medicines and care.
A) Every hospital is different so it’s really hard to answer, but generally there are good things about moving to adult services such as you are not around screaming babies or hyperactive toddlers, and you are treated more independently. It’s really important to remember that not all adults have a liver condition due to alcohol, so there will be adults there for a variety of reasons.
Their may also be other young adults there that have been transferred from children’s services so you wont be alone. Some hospitals run adolescent clinics to make the move to adult services more gradual for you. Talk to your CNS team to find out how what happens at your hospital.
